[osmondmom]

Our dryer is about 10 years old so I am not looking for a miracle but maybe a little a help to save some cash if possible. Heat and everything comes on just fine .The issue I am having is the dryer when set to timed dry or any other cycle is shutting off. Sometimes it will work fine and other times you have to fiddle with the times anywhere from 80 minutes to 30 minutes of dry time and hold the start button on for awhile so it does not shut off. And then again sometimes after it does get going it shuts off again and I have to repeat the process mulitiple times. We have checked the venting system and lint traps and have cleaned them all out and we are still having this issue. I thought it could be the belt is old and not gripping properly at first. Now I think it may be a timer issue. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[drtom4444]

It's dirty and lint deposits have built up, as it always does, in all the air ducts which cause the main safety to trip. A little vacuuming out does nothing. You will have to take it apart and clean it really well. You will have to clean the drier out thoroughly or it is all for nothing. Every air duct will have to be removed and scraped and washed out to remove baked on lint deposits which is like a concrete lining. This will burn so the manufacturer has installed the safeties to keep from having a house fire. The safeties are oval-shaped with a round center part containing the safety with two plug-on terminals for the wires and when they burn open or trip, from the dryer being dirty, nothing will work. Using an ohm meter you put a lead on each terminal of the safety, with one wire unplugged, and if it's good you will have a reading of about zero; if it's bad it will read infinity. Driers were the number one cause of fires at one time, hence now we have safety fuses. Apparently yours is resettable. Look at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMP7BW1lLs4 to see how. Also: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBiRw-KElC4 ; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFTZGgVisCI
http://www.electrical-forensics.com/Dryer/ElectricClothesDryers.html
http://fixitnow.com/wp/2010/10/09/whirlpool-dryer-model-le5800xsw3-wiring-diagram/
When you finish cleaning the drier it is best to also replace the belt, too, because you do not want to have to disassemble it all over again and if the belt is over two years old you should replace it.

Note that on most of the videos it does not show them washing out the parts, but this is important because it's the only way to really get the parts clean, just don't get motor wet or the capacitor if it has one. Vacuum out the motor to remove all dust. I would move the drier out to your garage to have plenty of space to work. You also want to check your vent and clean it, also. The vent should have a short run and be straight as possible. The job is really easier than it sounds. There is no shortcut that will work; it has to be cleaned well. Before you re-assemble it make sure to use white lithium grease (high-temp grease) and grease all bearings. DrTom4444